A Multiobjective Approach to Locate Emergency Shelters and Identify Evacuation Routes in Urban Areas |
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| Authors: | Luís Alçada-Almeida Lino Tralhão Luís Santos João Coutinho-Rodrigues |
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| Institution: | INESC-Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal,;PhD student, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal,;Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal;, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal |
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| Abstract: | Evacuation planning is an important component of emergency preparedness in urban areas. The number and location of rescue facilities is an important aspect of this planning, as is the identification of primary and secondary evacuation routes for residents to take. This article introduces a multiobjective approach to identify these aspects of evacuation planning. The approach incorporates a multiobjective model into a geographical information systems–based decision support system that planners can access via the Internet. The proposed approach is demonstrated with a case study for the City of Coimbra, Portugal, for evacuation during major fires. Although presented in this context, this approach is applicable to other emergency situations such as earthquakes, floods, and acts of terrorism. |
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